Karin Kallmaker's Calendar

This blog has been closed

2010-04-13T04:20:00.000-07:00

All the entries in this calendar blog have been transferred to Romance and Chocolate.

YTour - South Florida for Valentine's!

2010-02-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Visit BellaYTour.com for all the details of our Fort Lauderdale Valentine's Weekend fun! All events are free, so bring friends. It's a true more-the-merrier good time.

Friday, February 12th

Welcome Party at New Moon Bar, Ft Lauderdale's hottest spot for lesbians.

Saturday, February 13th

Work Day for Stonewall Library and Archives

Sunday, February 14th

Reading signing during Art Explosion! in Ft Lauderdale

Monday, February 15th - Friday, February 19th*
In addition, some of the authors are booking on a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas that includes a day on Norwegian Cruise Line's private island. What better way to beat the mid-winter blues than sun, sand and salt water with congenial company? Treat yourself or yourself and your girl, travel with friends, it's all good. We might even be able to steal a corner of the deck now and again to read from a few books to anyone who wants to listen.

Norwegian Cruise Lines
on the Norwegian Sky; inside births start at $299; outside with balcony at $529.
Feb 15: Depart Miami
Feb 16: Grand Bahamas
Feb 17: Nassau
Feb 18: Great Stirrup Cay (NCL's private island)
Feb 19: Return Miami

All our plans at the Bella Forum!

*Regarding the arrangements with the cruise line. Each person must register with the cruise line and follow those instructions and agree to whatever waivers and liability statements the cruise line requires. Bella's and Spinster's only role is to coordinate the selection and announcement of a common sailing date: February 15.

Neither Bella Books nor Spinsters Ink, nor its authors or representatives, are acting as a travel agent and assume no liability and make no guarantees about the cruise or the performance of the cruise line, or anyone associated with the cruise line. The sum total of all arrangements and agreements are between the person who registers and Norwegian.

Sorry to have to use the word "liability" in relation to books. But it had to be said.

Dallas - Jewel Book Club & Borders, November 11-12, 2009

2009-10-31T20:25:00.000-07:00

I'll be making my very first appearance in the Lone Star State on November 11 for the Jewel Lesbian Fiction Book Club and on November 12 at the Uptown Borders.

JEWEL is the lesbian/woman focused part of the Dallas Resource Center. They'll be discussing The Kiss that Counted. At the Jewel Club meeting, bring an empty paper box, which they're collecting to be used by LULAC to deliver food to needy families at the holidays. The event is co-sponsored by the Phil Johnson Historic Archives & Research Library. Wednesday, November 11 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

At Borders, I'll be reading from Warming Trend and a sneak preview of Stepping Stone. The event is at the Uptown Borders store on McKinney Avenue. Thursday, November 12, 2009, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Women's Week, Provincetown, 10/16-18/2009

2009-10-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

As far as we may have come, it's still a delight to be in Provincetown with women as far as the eye can see. Inns and theaters are packed with musicians and comics, the sidewalks are full of lotsa lesbians and readers and writers fill the bookstores and talk about anything they like.

I'll be signing books at two venues in Provincetown. If you're bound for Women's Week, please stop by.

October 16: Womencrafts, 376 Commercial Street, 11:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. I'll be joined by KG MacGregor, JE Knowles and Jocelyn Powers.

October 17: Now Voyager, 365 Commercial Street, 1 p.m. I'll be joined by Jocelyn Powers.

GCLS 2009 - Orlando!

2009-07-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

That's right, this year the only conference exclusively devoted to lesbian writing is off to the land of the Mouse! Four days and one gala night later, we'll be exhausted and energized all at the same time.

I'm very pleased that my The Kiss that Counted has been shortlisted for a Goldy in the Traditional/Contemporary romance category. I'm also slated to be auctioned off for a first dance after the awards. But seriously, folks, the best part of the con for me will be sharing stage with two very different writers, Jean Redmann and Missy Good. The three of us all come to lesbian writing from different paths, we write different genres, but we are still sistuhs!

Golden Crown Literary Society Conference 2009. See you there!

What is this item to the right? That's a mousepad, and it's up for silent auction to benefit the GCLS Scholarship Fund. Why is it special? It's a copy of one I customized for myself to motivate me to meet my deadlines. Maybe it'll help the winner more than it has me. I'm also auctioning a character name for my upcoming novel Above Temptation. Check the GCLS site for details about the auction.

The Y Tour - Denver - June 4-7, 2009

2009-06-07T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Y Tour is over...for now. For photographs and blogs about this fabulous event, visit BellaYTour.com

Because WomYn are better together!

The first-ever Bella Books and Spinsters Ink Y Tour is taking place June 4-7 in Denver!

The Y Tour is about womYn working together, creating, building, dancing and reading. Several events are planned with Denver womYn's and charitible groups, including:

Thursday night kickoff party! Get first crack at our inventory of books.

The First Friday Dance by Babes Around Denver. We will have books on hand for signing, if you can catch us off the dance floor. A portion of profits will be donated to Metro Denver's Habitat for Humanity.

Saturday Build! Bella & Spinsters authors will join with Tomboy Tools for a Habitat workday.

Sunday afternoon at Belmar Public Library, a reading with questions and answers. It's one last chance to pick up copies from the authors, or to bring your own for signing after the program.

Kenna White * Karin Kallmaker * KG MacGregor * Ruth Perkinson * Tracey Richardson * Rose Pry

We hope you'll join us reading, building and dancing!

1st Annual Gay and Lesbian Literary Arts Festival

2009-04-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

I'll be returning to south Florida again in 2009, to appear at this new literary arts festival!

The first annual Gay and Lesbian Literary Arts Festival is scheduled for April 24-25 2009, and will take place at ArtServe and Stonewall Library & Archives, at 1350 East Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, in the Auditorium and auxiliary conference rooms. The festival will feature at least 5 current and prominent GLBT literary arts figures, with an opening reception with the artists, readings, book signings, discussion panels, presentations, workshops, exhibits and social functions.

The festival organizers have put together a great video to promote the event:

Lebian Genre Fiction Tour: September 16 & 17, 2008

2008-09-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

The Lesbian GenFic Tour will be reading (and always ready to answer questions) back-to-back in San Francisco this month. The tour members are:

Tuesday, September 16: Jaime, Karin , JLee, Diane, Anna and Ursula @ A Different Light Books

489 Castro St.San Francisco, 415-431-0891

Wednesday, September 17: Karin and JLee @ Betty's List Book Club.

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - Duboce Park Cafe
Corner Duboce & Sanchez Streets,
(The Castro), San FranciscoCo-Chair by Dr. Betty L. Sullivan, Professor Cynthia Katona

GCLS 2008 - Phoenix!

2008-07-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

It's the only by lesbians, about lesbian fiction event of its kind.

And it's my favorite literary event of the year. The organizers have selected a beautiful resort with rooms costing no more than the last two years, and one of my sheroes, Katherine Forrest, is the keynote speaker. She will also be doing an extensive lecture on what editors are looking for in submissions.

It also means I'll get to talk to readers and hug all old friends, make new friends (I'll hug them too) and explore the Phoenix area-- it's been years since I visited. I am hoping to include a pilgrimage to Taliesen West. It was a visit there that inspired me to make Jackie in Painted Moon an architect.

If you love lesbian lit and want a great vacation--this is it. It's one of those all-lesbian theme cruises, well, without the sea sickness.

News about the site, speakers, programs, fun, frivolity, awards gala and attending writers, editors and publishers is released almost daily.

Check out the registration and resort information and mark your calendar.

Betty's List Book Club

2008-07-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

This Bay Area reader's group has invited me to their every third Wednesday book club. I'll attend on WEDNESDAY, July 16, and am looking forward to such involved readers. This is a link to the Betty's List book club blog, which recaps past events. Photos and such can be found here.

Betty's List is a longstanding Bay Area LGBT listserv and web site that provides community announcements and ads, organized by Betty Sullivan.

The Betty's List Book Club meets at:

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - Duboce Park Cafe

Corner Duboce & Sanchez Streets, (The Castro), San Francisco
Co-Chair by Dr. Betty L. Sullivan, Professor Cynthia Katona Host: Rachel Herbert, Duboce Park Cafe.

Come early to join in for dinner and relaxing conversation before the event. I will read from The Kiss That Counted.

Stonewall Library and Archives

2008-03-19T03:02:00.000-07:00

After event note: This was a wonderful evening, with standing room only. I had a marvelous time making a few comments and reading from several different books. Photos here, and video here.

It's a pleasure and an honor to announce that I'll be participating in the 2008 Stonewall Library and Archive's Distinguished Author Series. From their material about the 2007 series:

"As part of this public program, Stonewall hosts lectures and book signings by prominent LGBT authors or by authors who have written books of particular interest to the LGBT community. During 2007, our roster of acclaimed writers included James Sears, Lillian Faderman, Gypsey Teague, John McNeill, Alison Bechdel, Richard McCann and Felice Picano."

This year's series begins with historians Michael Sherry and Richard Leopold, followed by Andrew Holleran in February. I will appear on March 19. The lecture is a combination of reading, remarks and Q&A and begins at 7 p.m. I'm planning to include in my comments my sincere belief that genre fiction, especially romance, is the literary representation of our every day emotional and sexual lives, and the validation of our human hopes and dreams as lived out as queer (using the big umbrella word) people. This event is free and made possible by donors to Stonewall.

I hope that those of you in the South Florida area will be able to join me for the evening!

www.stonewall-library.org

Stonewall, 1717 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.(954) 763-8565

Hayward Main Library

2008-03-15T03:01:00.000-07:00

After event note: We had a great reading and post-reading discussion. My photos here. The Hayward Public Library's photos here.

Thanks to the organization of Jake Anderson-Minshall, the LGFBAT will be reading at two libraries in the next couple of months. The tour members are:

Gabrielle Goldsby
JLee Meyer
Diane & Jacob Anderson-Minshall
Anna Furtado
Ursula Steck
And moi, of course

On Saturday, March 15, we’ll be at the Hayward Main Library, starting at 2 p.m. Given the afternoon timeframe, it seems like a G-rated reading from the new edition of Christabel is in order. I haven’t ever read from Christabel, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Breaking news: Jaime Clevenger will be joining the tour for the Hayward Library reading, reading from All Bets Off!

San Francisco Public Library Main

2008-02-06T02:58:00.000-08:00

Wow! A great turn out for this event. After a long work day and in the middle of the week about 30 or so avid fans of lesbian fiction turned out to hear our group read. Photos from the event are at Flickr. (As always, no log in is required to view or comment on the photos.)

Unfortunately, unexpected events kept Anna Furtado and JLee Meyer from joining us, and they were very much missed.

Reading at this event therefore were:
Gabrielle Goldsby read from Such a Pretty Face
Diane & Jacob Anderson-Minshall each read from Blind Leap
Ursula Steck read from Laura's War

I read the short story "Filled to Overflowing" from In Deep Waters 1. A reader in the audience was kind enough to film my portion of the event. You can watch the video at YouTube, including the out take of me looking for my glasses.

Femina Potens

2007-12-08T03:09:00.000-08:00

The Lesbian Genre Fiction Bay Area Tour (LGFBAT) had its first event at Swizzle! This monthly open mic event is held at gallery Femina Potens in the Castro.

The turnout was standing room only, and our group was preceded by several great readings by local writers.

It was a chilly night for the Bay Area, and fellow Bella author Ursula Steck and I were bundled up against the cold. Other readers were:

JLee Meyer
Diane & Jacob Anderson-Minshall
Anna Furtado

Click here for photos from the event.

Followup note: The tour group's photo was featured on page 11 of the March 08 issue of Curve Magazine. Me and k.d. lang, almost nearly sorta kinda...together.

Women's Week 2007

2007-10-09T03:06:00.000-07:00

It happens every fall. Women leave the last remnants of summer for the chance of a nor'easter to go to Provincetown for Women's Week. Why? Well, if you have to ask, you haven't been.

I've got photos from the week at Flickr with some captions, but they don't begin to capture the fun. My favorite online community of friends was well-represented at a sunset bonfire on the beach. I brought chocolate; I've found no one will turn me away with chocolate in my hand. Someone else shared a very fine whiskey and the laughter was spread far and wide by a sharp October wind. To the left is a photo from the signings fiesta at Now Voyager books: left to right, KG MacGregor, me, Cindy Cresap and Diana Tremaine Braund.

While I was in Provincetown I participated in a panel to benefit Helping Our Women, a very local charity. It was such fun and I want to thank the NINETY women who bought tickets. KG has photos up at her web site (including the Blues Women). The other panelists were Kim Baldwin and JLee Meyer with Radclyffe moderating (or trying to moderate us...it wasn't easy with KG involved). Between the five of us we've written and/or edited 70+ books of lesbian fiction. It was an honor to share a stage with this group!

A reader and friend sent me a recording of my portion of the event and I've posted the video in three parts on YouTube. The visual is dark, but the audio sounds great and I read from All the Wrong Places and In Deep Waters; both passages feature the musings of Brandy Monsoon. First I read the passage from the novel where she realizes her feelings for Tess aren't exactly what she thought. Then, in the follow-up short story, I read her decided opinion on the necessity of an extension cord when one is far away from one's beloved. The last video is my response to the question about what it's like to work with Radclyffe. (Short answer is, um, YES!)

Golden Crown 2007

2007-06-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

The Golden Crown Literary Society's annual conventions are still the best events I attend all year. My main blog has several articles about the events and society. Look for keyword GCLS.

This year in Altanta, the third annual convention featured three days of workshops and opportunities to meet and chat with readers. The synergy of the event makes for energizing, informative and flat-out fun! It's all about lesbian fiction.

This year I got to meet one of my sheroes, Lee Lynch, and teach a class with Lori Lake on writing fabulous story people. Ellen Hart was a fabulous keynote speaker, and I was also honored to win a Goldie for 18th & Castro!

There are photos from several attendees on Flickr. Here's the link to mine.

The GCLS is open to all lovers of lesbian fiction, but you don't have to be a member to attend the convention. Next year: Phoenix.

GCLS 2006

2006-06-12T03:29:00.000-07:00

The second annual convention in Altanta was fabulously fun! There's nothing like the laughter of women to put me in a great, creative mood.

Time spent chatting with readers is always well-spent, and I love signing books. Equally energizing is the chance to meet and talk to other writers, because we all share the same passion for lesbian literature. This photo of Lori Lake playing with handcuffs is a personal favorite.

The mayhem and madness of charades, jeopardy and panel readings was a terrific contrast with the studied and serious presentation of writing techniques. I was honored to pick up my second Goldie for Just Like That! Ann Bannon was the keynote speaker this year, and her intimate look at the publishing of pulp fiction was fascinating.

There are photos from the events posted online by other attendees at Flickr. Here's the link to my photo set.